does this count as "too much" sick leave?

[IHeartKittensAndWine]

Just had a strange conversation with my boss's boss who commented that I have taken "excessive" amounts of sick leave in my time at the company.

I haven't taken a day off at all this year took ten continuous days off last year for swine flu (including 2 weekend days), and five days in two blocks the year before (food poisening mid way through the year and a chest infection just before Christmas).

I let the comment pass as it was in an informal setting (over coffee with other people around) and the conversation had moved on before I could respond. I'm a little bit bewildered. I know of many other people who have much higher levels (not for pregnancy, or depression, just occassional illnesses) and also people who have taken none at all.

I suppose I have two questions, firstly does this sound like a lot of sick leave to you, and is this something I should seek to correct, or just let it pass?

What 'counts' as too much will depend on whatever the policy is. However assuming there haven't been other odd days in between, what you mention doesn't sound excessive to me, no. 10 days is a long time obviously, but if it's for something serious and you have otherwise taken no time off sick all year, then that sounds fine.

Similarly, the year before, a total of 5 days isn't a lot, especially in two blocks rather than 5 odd days.

I'd suggest you speak to your actual boss about it, say you were concerned by the comment, haven't had your absence levels raised as an issue before and would like to discuss it.

I don't think that sounds like a lot at all!
I would ask your boss what his boss meant by the comment as even in an informal setting, it has been said and IMHO is unnecessary as your calculations of your sick leave don't sound excessive at all.
With chest infections and swine flu you can't exactly just take a day or two off can you. I have known plenty more people have far more occasions of sick leave than that when I worked.

If you are genuinely too ill to work then there is no such thing, is there?

I expect a lot of people have had longer periods of time off in the last year because of swine flu - either because they had it or because it was suspected and the advice was to stay away for 14 days.

Oh and I've thought of an interesting point - children are supposed to stay off school for 48 hrs following D&V and there have been threads where parents say it is irresponsible to lt your child go back earlier than this even if they have no other symptoms. But how many adults would stay off work for that long?

Is it because adults at work can be trusted not to lick each other and pick up bugs?

yes, I've always wondered that TA and assume that's the case. I think people who work in food preparation etc have the same rule

Trillian - I think it's because adults aren't expected to be ill and even when they are there are a lot of employers who are sceptical of anyone calling in sick.
But probably the licking thing has something to do with it

Seeing as I recently had 7 weeks off sick then I think it is fine. Was covered by sicknotes.

Unfortunately have had previous longer term sick too. Had 2 ops within 3 months resulting in 7 weeks off, then 3 weeks back, then 9 weeks off again. Before that I had the odd day off in most months for ongoing issues which the ops solved. Although I did have to see hr all was fine.

Sick leave policies can be really stupid and without rhyme or reason. Our place count the number of instances. Anything over three instances of sick leave per year gets flagged up. So, if a colleague had three lots of a fortnight off and I had four single days, I would be called in for the chat not her.

Hmm. Took flowery's advice and just grabbed boss for quick chat. Apparantly, boss's boss had already mentioned it to him, and he had dismissed it on my behalf. But I' "twitched his antennae" when I refused his offer of a glass of wine at a do last week The work lot are very "jovial" and he was really pushing me to have one and I said no thanks, I've taken a lot of paracetomal for a headache. He's heard me use that excuse before, apparently, so thinks I'm a hypochondriac.

What am I supposed to do? There is a certain level of expectation that we go to these dos and there's always this pressue to drink which I HATE. Say no thanks, I'm TTC, or no thanks, I've got menstrual cramps and am dosed to the skies (which are the truth)? I always thought the headache excuse was preferable!

Bit of a deviation from before. Sorry. Just got Friday afternoon frustration. Conv with boss ended with one of those "could you justs" which you can't say no to, but means either staying till midnight tonight or taking home for the weekend. Grr.

Your boss's boss sounds like an arse tbh!
I hate the managers who put a black mark against you just because you're not the one getting slaughtered at work events.
It's rather immature to think that by just refusing an alcoholic drink you are in some way a lesser employee - granted, everyone likes a team player but you have a valid reason not to want to drink! I'd rather see people passing on the wine than ending up having too much and making a fool of themselves in front of their managers.
If your own boss is nice and you like him, then thank him for dismissing his boss's comments about sick leave on your behalf and there's no harm in having made it known to him that his boss's comments about your absenteeism have struck you as being unfair.
At least you can feel superior in the knowledge that if he is calling late Friday night meetings, he obviously doesn't have anything worthwhile in his private life to be doing on a Friday night

What a prick! Does he come from the Stone Ages that he thinks it is acceptable to force alcohol on someone? Would he be so pleased if you left work half-drunk and drove into his car - or worse, injured someone?